What do you call your adult leaders in your youth ministry? Chaperones? Leaders? Ministers? …Steve?

Is there a word that captures their purpose a little better?

I’ve taught my Connect workshop to youth leaders 3 times in the last 7 days in 3 different states, and my message didn’t change:

“We don’t need more Chaperones; we need caring adults who are willing to connect with young people, love them, and engage in meaningful conversations.”

Last Saturday I taught this workshop in West Houston, and a youth worker named Dave Blanchard hosted it, inviting his team of Sherpas. Yes… a Sherpa. Like those Tibetan guides who know the terrain and escort people on tumultuous journeys across some of the toughest terrain they’ll ever navigate.

I love Dave’s choice of semantics. A “Sherpa” encapsulates so much of what we want our adult leaders to be.

I met some of Dave’s Sherpas, including 75-year-old Ed. Ed went to Dave’s Sherpa training and has been hanging out with high school kids since.

Dave says it well:

“Throughout scripture, people climb mountains, encounter God, and leave forever changed.  Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John – all changed (on a mountain) in the presence of God.  Youth ministry is about leading young people up the Mountain of the Lord – to experience God and leave forever changed.  For this, we need experienced mountain climbers to lead the way; people who have reached the summit themselves and know how to get back again.  We need wise and experienced Sherpas to accompany students as they navigate new and challenging terrain; invested guides, committed to the journey, whose ultimate goal is to summit that mountain – with students in tow.  Students who will encounter God and leave forever changed.”

Is it a big deal if we just call them youth leaders? Probably not. The point is this. We don’t need chaperones hanging out in the back perimeter of a youth room “keeping watch for when a kid steps out of line.” We need caring adult leaders who are willing to love kids, hang out with them, visit them on their own turf, and mentor them… or act as a “Sherpa”… as they navigate the journey of adolescence.

Are you mobilizing and equipping “Sherpas”?

What terms do you use?

READ JONATHAN’S NEW BOOK ON MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS HERE

WATCH JONATHAN’S FREE TRAINING VIDEO ABOUT CONNECTING WITH TODAY’S YOUNG PEOPLE HERE